By: Linda Buice, STPRC VolunteerThe spiritual effects of abortion are often not talked about or considered. As we stated in earlier posts, there are physical, psychological, and emotional risks to both the men and women involved with an abortion and decisions should not be rushed. Those risks have been researched and are well documented. Spiritual issues are usually not considered at all because what is going on inside is not tangible.

Spirit is defined as the force that is within the person or the inner quality which gives the person the body energy and power. For some people they refer to being spiritual when they are talking about their faith. The word spiritual is defined as relating to the spirit of a person or their religion or religious beliefs. Both terms are talking about what is going on internally and that is something most women or men do not talk about and keep private.

As stated in previous blog posts, there are many reasons why women think abortion is the only option. Maybe at that time in life it seems to be the only answer, but people grow and change with time. A perfect example would be Norma Mc Corvey who is the woman represented in Roe versus Wade 1973. She was the “Jane Roe”. Since that time she has taken a different stance and has tried to get the court to overturn their decision. With age she realized her thinking had been manipulated by others.

Abortion can not only affect the spirit of the woman, but also those close to them. It can become a secret inside that is not talked about. When this happens, the pain inside may not go away and can cause other issues. Most women feel they are not allowed to talk about it. This may be especially true for women who attend church.So when considering the spiritual side that is within that no one sees, one has to think about the future. People grow and mature with age. Consider the following questions:

Will you be able to be truthful with future marriage partners about an abortion?

What about future in-laws?

How about children you might have?

What about future friends?

If you are in a church family, will you share your past?

Can you be certain on how you will feel in later years or how you will internalize your choice?

Do you have religious beliefs? If so, how might they be impacted?

If you are feeling confused or overwhelmed, you are not alone. The Southern Tier Pregnancy Resource Center has a variety of resources available as well as trained peer-counselors to help you become better informed and give you the support you need. Our services are kept confidential. We are here to help you. Contact us today for an appointment.